Family Awaits Confirmation Month After Report of Death of China’s Underground Catholic Bishop

South China Morning Post ^ | 7/25/15 | AFP

[marshmallow]

Family of Bishop Shi Enxiang, who spent more than half a century in detention for refusing to renounce Pope's authority, told by a village official last month that he had died, aged 93

In a living room plastered with pious images, the Shi family flicked through timeworn pictures of a wizened man with tortoiseshell glasses and bright eyes, the oldest bishop of China’s underground Catholic church.

Almost a month ago, they were passed word that Bishop Shi Enxiang – who spent more than half a century in detention for refusing to renounce the authority of the Pope – had died, aged 93.

Since then, nothing: no official confirmation, no corpse, no ashes.

“All we want is to be able to bury him: they should give us the body out of human dignity,” said Shi Wanke, 66, the bishop’s nephew, in a calm, gravelly voice. Around him, his children nodded in agreement.

The family were first told at the end of last month that Shi Enxiang – whom they have not heard from since he disappeared during a trip to Beijing in 2001 – had died.

The village chief in Shizhuang, in the northern province of Hebei, “asked if we had received the body of my uncle”, Shi Wanke said. .

[ConorMacNessa]

It is not only ISIS who are martyring Christians in this day - God Bless Bishop Shi Enxiang - Lord, gather him into your Healing Wings!


"Dia shábháil ar fad anseo!"

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

[9thLife]

who spent more than half a century in detention for refusing to renounce the authority of the Pope

It's always the End Times. Now more than ever.